Tropical storm Bonnie will delay BP Plc’s efforts to permanently plug its wrecked Macondo well in the Gulf of Mexico by almost two weeks. The gusher will remain sealed so that no more oil leaks into the sea.
Bonnie, which formed in the Caribbean and became a storm late yesterday, may reach the Macondo well site on Saturday. BP said high seas from the storm made it necessary to move the Development Driller ships working on the relief wells that will be used to kill Macondo by pumping it full of mud and cement. The evacuation will set back completion of the plugging project to the end of August.
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Allen gave permission for BP to leave the well capped during the storm after more than six days of tests eased concerns new leaks would add to the worst oil spill in U.S. history. The government is requiring BP to continue surveillance of the seafloor surrounding the well and pressure levels inside the well.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-07-23/bp-s-well-to-remain-sealed-as-tropical-storm-passes-delaying-final-kill.htmlWe had gotten very luck on the Hurricane impact angle. Luck can only take you so far. Still if the cap holds maybe this will convince all those who wanted BP to open the cap that it would have been a bad idea.